Medication including antibiotics, anti-hypertension pills and even rabiesvaccines were taken from hundreds of pharmacies and markets, including dozensof online pharmacies, as Interpol attempts to curb the widespread sale of fakedrugs being produced in the region.

Interpol said in a statement they had arrested 87 individuals in the courseof the crackdown, which "brought together law enforcement and drug regulatoryagencies to target the organised criminal networks behind pharmaceutical crimein Asia."

"Operation Storm VI demonstrated the sophistication and determination ofcriminal groups engaged in pharmaceutical crime, creating dangers to publichealth and the safety of the population," said Aline Plancon, Head ofInterpol's Global Health and Safety unit.

The World Health Organization has said the traffic of fake medicationmostly affects Asia, Latin America and especially Africa, where "systems ofpharmaceutical regulation and of checks on their application are the weakest." — AFP